So that’s hundreds of dollars per seat for tickets what originally cost way less than $100.

So here’s what you do, you show up at the box office on Geary two hours early and enter the lottery.

At $29 a ticket for the winners, this is a steal.

If you don’t want to go through this kind of hassle day after day, then don’t do it because you are not a true fan, (The SHN / BoM people are making you jump through hoops for a reason, don’t you know.)

Now I’ll tell you, when they did this for Rent, back in the day, they lotteried away the two front rows for $19 a piece.

Good times.

Of course the angle was sort of ridiculous and you would see things you weren’t meant to see, but this was quite nice for students of the theatre.

(I don’t know which seats lottery winners will get – they might not get to sit right up front.)

THE BOOK OF MORMON will conduct a pre-show lottery at the box office, making a limited number of tickets available at $29 apiece; cash only. This lottery will be held prior to every performance.

Entries will be accepted at the SHN Curran Theatre box office beginning two hours prior to each performance; each person will print their name and the number of tickets (1 or 2) they wish to purchase on a card that is provided. One and a half hours before curtain, names will be drawn at random for a limited number of tickets priced at $29 each.

Only one entry is allowed per person. Cards are checked for duplication prior to drawing. Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase tickets. Limit one entry per person and two tickets per winner. Tickets are subject to availability.

Nine 2011 Tony Awards® say it’s the Best Musical of the Year. Vogue says, “It’s the funniest musical of all time.” And The New York Times says, “It’s the best musical of this century.” It’s THE BOOK OF MORMON, the Broadway phenomenon from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q co-creator Robert Lopez. The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart calls it “A crowning achievement. So good, it makes me angry.” Contains explicit language.

For more information please visit www.bookofmormonthemusical.com.

If you come across any website other than shnsf.com claiming to sell THE BOOK OF MORMON tickets for the San Francisco engagement, buyer beware! SHN has no way of validating, or replacing tickets that have been purchased through any website other than shnsf.com. We cannot seat or refund you for an invalidated ticket.

If you have any questions, please call 1-888-746-1799 before purchasing.

3. A relatively small theatre (The Curran is big but the Orpheum and the Golden Gate are bigger); and

4. A short, five-week engagement – this show will bug out of here for Portlandia on Dec. 30th, 2012 NO MATTER WHAT, no extensions

And for the first time in my life, I can articulate a reason to have an AMEX card. The remaining decent-priced good seats at (those not already promised to SHN Members) will get sold today starting at 10:00 AM.

Choose or lose…

“AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDMEMBER EXCLUSIVE – GET EARLY ACCESS TO THE BOOK OF MORMON TICKETS!

BEGINNING WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12 AT 10AM

Nine 2011 Tony Awards® say it’s the Best Musical of the Year. Vogue says, “It’s the funniest musical of all time.” And The New York Times says, “It’s the best musical of this century.” It’s THE BOOK OF MORMON, the Broadway phenomenon from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q co-creator Robert Lopez. The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart calls it “A crowning achievement. So good, it makes me angry.” Contains explicit language.

Coming to the SHN Curran Theatre for a strictly limited five-week engagement, November 27 – December 30.

SHNews customers: if you are an AMERICAN EXPRESS® cardmember, you can purchase tickets beginning today at 10 am, before the general public on sale which begins Friday, Sept. 21 at 10am.